Joleon Lescott

Joleon Lescott is Manchester City’s latest big-name summer signing. Arriving from Everton, the England centre-back has cost the Arabian-owned Eastland’s side a reported £24m following a protracted transfer negotiation.

Appeal

At 6ft 2in, Joleon Lescott cuts an imposing figure both on pitch and off, and with his distinctive facial scar; he is likely to turn heads wherever he goes. Leaving the cash-strapped Everton for the newly flush Manchester City, Lescott is likely to have hit pay dirt, and this will not go un-noticed by all the future wannabe WAGs of the North-west who will inevitably make a bee-line for the Birmingham born star when he arrives at Eastlands.

Success

In football terms, it would appear that Joleon Lescott is just about to hit his peak. He has just signed for the most ambitious club in England, Manchester City, who have their sights set on domestic and European glory, and for once, have the money to back it up. He also made his senior international debut for England in October 2007, and looks set to be a contender for the England squad for the South African World Cup in 2010.

Joleon Lescott Biography

As a five-year-old child, Joleon Lescott was hit by a car and dragged along the road outside his primary school in front of his mother. Despite serious injuries, major surgery and several operations, the only reminder of his misfortune is his distinctive facial scar which serves as a reminder to the player of how lucky he was to survive such a serious accident.

Joleon Lescott at Wolves

Born in the Quinton area of Birmingham, Joleon Lescott joined the Wolverhampton Wanderers' youth academy after a brief spell at Derby County. He made his first team debut for Wolves in August 2000 aged 17, and was named the Supporters’ Young Player of the Year for the 2000/01 and 2001/02 seasons. Lescott’s mature performances at the heart of the Wolves’ defence ensured his name would be on the team-sheet for the next few seasons. The 2002/03 campaign would see the Wanderers promoted to the Premier League via the play-off final at the Millennium Stadium.

Despite playing in the season finale in Cardiff, Joleon Lescott would miss the whole next top-flight season through a knee injury, and Wolves ended up relegated, back in the Championship for the 2005/06 season. Signing a new contract at the Midlands club, Joleon Lescott became the Wolves most valued player and was named Player of the Year in 2006.

Joleon Lescott at Everton

Joleon Lescott’s reliable and assured appearances in defence for Wolves brought him to the attention of the Premier League, and in 2006 the Birmingham-born defender joined Everton for around £5m. Lescott went on to make his Everton debut in August 2006 as a sub against Watford before making his first start soon after, against Spurs, in which he was named Man of the Match. He ended his impressive season being named Player’s Player of the Season, and runner up fan’s Player of the Season.

With ten goals to his name in the following 2007/08 season, Joleon Lescott proved to be a fan and team favourite after being voted Everton’s Player of the Season as well as the Player’s Player award.

Joleon Lescott moves to Manchester City

After another decent campaign at Goodison Park for the 2008/09 season which saw Everton finish fifth in the league, Joleon Lescott was made a transfer target by Manchester City. The Eastland’s side had recently been bought by the Abu Dhabi United Group becoming, reportedly, the richest club in the world, and the new owners looked to buy success through tempting the Premier League’s best players to the club. After spending over £100m on new players in the close season, Lescott became their latest target, and the unsettled player handed in a transfer request in August 2009.

After protracted transfer negotiations dragged on into the new season caused Everton to have a poor start to the year, losing their opening day fixture 6-1 at home to Arsenal, a deal was thrashed out with a price tag set at around £24m. With Everton crying foul over improper approaches to their star player, the ramifications of the deal look set to rumble on into the season, but Joleon Lescott will want to just let his football do the talking, and get on with his job of shoring up Manchester City’s defence.